Super Rugby Team Of The Week

Super Rugby Team Of The Week

Another exciting weekend of rugby in Australiasia saw the Melbourne Rebels beat the Waratahs, the Hurricanes end the Crusaders 36 unbeaten run at home, the Brumbies breeze past Western Force and the Hurricanes edged the Chiefs in a thriller at Eden Park.

We pick our team of the week from the action in New Zealand and Australia. 



1. Joe Moody - Crusaders


Powerful in the scrum and lively all over the park in the loss to the Hurricanes. His absence in the latter stages of the game was notable as the Hurricanes pack started to take control.


2. Asafo Aumua - Hurricanes


Dane Coles was a notable absentee when the teams were announced for the Crusaders and Hurricanes clash in Christchurch but Asafo Aumua grasped his opportunity with both hands. The New Zealand rakes have struggled with their lineout darts since rugby returned in New Zealand and Aumua is no different but his brutality on attack and defence gets him in our team of the week.


3. Ofa Tu'ungafasi - Blues 

An effective and efficient from Brumbies' captain Allan Alaalatoa is not enough to see him make the side despite doing everything you want your tighthead to do and some.

However, All Black Ofa Tu'ungafasi was too dominant to leave out. The big Blues' man was all over the park and produced up front in the pack as well.

He made a number of crunching tackles, nine in total, and racked up 20 running metres from his seven carries.

4. Patrick Tuipulotu - Blues

Another standout game from the All Black second-rower, who has gone from strength to strength since taking over the captain's armband at the Auckland-based side.

Tuipulotu was excellent in the rucks, carried strongly to score a try and hit bodies backwards during a strong 80 minutes for the side. 

5. Matthew Philip - Melbourne Rebels

Philip was brutally effective in the win over the Waratahs providing the platform for the Rebels backs to capitalise on.

He made 16 carries for the side, six tackles and was effective in the rucks.

A mention for Josh Goodhue who made an excellent impact off the bench for the Blues securing a late penalty for the side.



6. Lachlan Boshier - Chiefs

The Chiefs' blindside made another push for an All Black call up scoring his second try in as many weeks against the Blues.

Boshier was a nightmare at the breakdown for the Blues, made seven strong tackles and just edges the Rebels' Richard Hardwick for a place in the side.

7. Dalton Papali'i - Blues

Another close call between Papali'i and the Hurricanes' DuPlessis Kirifi. 

The pair had similar games making an impact on both attack and defence but the Blues' man gets the edge with a more accurate defensive display failing to miss a tackle.

Both players got stuck into rucks, made metres with their carries.

8. Pete Samu - Brumbies

A quick-fire and effective 55 minutes from the Wallaby loose forward. Pete Samu brilliantly set up the Brumbies first two tries of the game before taking a breather with the game pretty much in the bag before the hour mark. Samu was the highest ball carrier in the game with 9 carries against the Force.

He beats Akira Ioane to a place in the side with the Blues' man putting in a strong shift in the win over the Chiefs.


9. TJ Perenara - Hurricanes

TJ Perenara was outstanding for the Hurricanes in their win over the Crusaders and beats out livewire Brumbies' halfback Joe Powell and bettered Finlay Christie to the jersey with Powell's excellent attacking display helping the Brumbies stampede to victory over the Western Force.

Perenara managed the Hurricanes' attack brilliantly to victory over the Crusaders ending their 36 game unbeaten run at home. He kicked well out of hand and closed out the game at first five.

10. Beauden Barrett - Blues

 
 
 
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Barrett played a pivotal role in the Blues' win over the Chiefs with the Blues shutting the visitors out in the latter stages of the game.

In his first start at 10 in almost a year, Barrett was cool calm and collected throughout the game, maintained a 100% kicking success throughout the game with a few testing shots at goal while running an excellent attacking game plan for the Blues. The Blues' first try was started by an excellent pass from the scrum to Rieko Ioane who sent Matt Duffie on his way with Barrett also marshalling the troops while for the second try for captain Patrick Tuipulotu.

The third and final try for the Blues also had Barrett's mark on it with the Blues' ace going metres short before Finlay Christie forced his way over. His open play kicking was also of high quality as was his attacking game making over 40 metres and beating three defenders.

He beats Richie Mo'unga to the jersey with the All Black ace missing c crucial shot at goal to send the game into the golden point extra time but that doesn't take away from Mo'unga's excellent performance against the Hurricanes. 17 points on the night beating 12 Hurricanes in a great game by the pivot.

11. Tom Wright - Brumbies

George Bridge scored an excellent try against the Hurricanes while Ben Lam was solid in his final game for the Hurricanes but Tom Wright slips into the left wing jersey after a standout game for the Brumbies.

Wright racked up over 130 running metres, scored a try, assisted another and beat four defenders making four clean breaks. Another standout performance from the former league star who could be turning out in the Wallaby Gold and Green later this year.



12. Irae Simone - Brumbies

Ngani Laumape was excellent once again for the Hurricanes in their win over the Crusaders but his beaten to the jersey by Brumbies' excellent inside.

Simone put in a calming performance for the Brumbies who had youngster Bayley Kuenzle making his first start for the side.

He mixed up his game well with some nice ball carries making 30 metres and kicked well with one of his 50/22s leading to a try. 

He also grabbed one for himself and made all but one of his attempted 10 tackles.

13. Peter Umaga-Jensen - Hurricanes

A kind of performance that his uncle Tana regularly produced in the Wellington yellow, Peter put in a staring performance that was only undone by an injury in the act of scoring that cut his game short by 18 minutes.


His try extended the Hurricanes' lead to 11 points, which was just enough after Jordie Barrett added the extras and a later penalty to see the Hurricanes to victory. Before leaving the field he provided Wes Goosen with the try-scoring pass in a passage of play that he was heavily involved in.

Umaga-Jensen's stellar game on Saturday just sees beat out Anton Liernert-Brown to a place in the side with not much really splitting. Liernert-Brown  starred in the loss to the Blues making over 30 running metres, made some excellent reads in defence and came up with a try assist.


14. Wes Goosen - Hurricanes

An incredibly difficult call to make with both Sevu Reece and Wes Goosen doing their fair share to warrant selection in our team of the week but in the end Goosen gets the nod with the result swinging in his side's favour.

The South African-born speedster grabbed a brace compared to Reece's sole try with Reece also providing an assist to George Bridge.

Really nothing separating the pair. 


15. Jordie Barrett - Hurricanes

The chorus for Jordie Barrett to start at fullback will only grow louder after another steady performance against the Crusaders where he outshone fellow contender Will Jordan in the red and black jersey.

Accurate from the tee, Barrett also picked up a try assist and once again proved to be a match-winner for the Hurricanes for the fourth week in a row.

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